Evidence of interpersonal violence through nasal fractures in Late Holocene Southern Patagonia

To analyse the prevalence of nasal fracture among individuals from Southern Patagonia and to identify nasal fracture patterns that may reflect interpersonal violence at the population level, differentiating between pre- and post-contact periods.

98 adults (males and females) dated to the Late Holocene period (4200 B.P.- present) from all Southern Patagonia ecogeographic subregions.

Facial bones were macroscopically examined for side of the fracture, direction of the deviation of the nasal bones and/or frontal processes of the maxilla, type of fracture (e.g. transverse, longitudinal), presence/absence of other facial fractures, and bone remodelling.

Nasal fractures were identified in fifteen individuals (15.3 %), and were more frequent in males, particularly those from the Estrecho de Magallanes region. Comparisons revealed a significantly higher frequency among pre-contact individuals (23.8 % vs. 2.6 %; p = 0.0184).

This study documents the highest frequency of nasal fracture reported to date in South America's bioarcheological record. Contrary to expectations, pre-contact individuals had a significantly higher frequency, suggesting a possible shift in violence dynamics following foreign contact.

This study provides insight into patterns of violence potentially linked to changes in pre and post-colonial life in Southern Patagonia and represents one of the first population-level biocultural approaches to interpersonal violence in the region.

Analyses are limited due to the reduced number of individuals by sex, subregion, subsistence strategy, and period. Comparisons are hindered by the methodological heterogeneity of other studies on interpersonal violence in Patagonia and South America.